What can you do to create a more adaptable child? Michele Borba, Ed.D., says the answer is simple: Give them plenty of practice. “If we can help our kids practice coping with ambiguous situations, they grow mentally stronger and more confident in handling the bumps and bruises of life,” says Dr. Borba, the author of …
“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.” ―Muriel Rukeyser, American poet and political activist When was the last time you shared a story with your children from your life before you became a parent? Do they even know you had a life before them? There …
One of the things kids love most about the beach is the chance to play with sand. Sand is an excellent material to play with. It is versatile, widely available, open-ended and cheap. Not only is it nature-based, but it involves manipulation, exploration, and construction with materials to create imaginary worlds. On top of being …
What makes you come alive? As parents and caregivers, the question is worth pondering as we move into a new year. That’s why nationally recognized life balance author/speaker/coach Renée Trudeau shared the following guest post with Girls That Create. Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. …
Many parents want to encourage their children to be creative. This is not just about training the next Archibald Prize winner. Young people develop important emotional and cognitive skills when they make art. But at the same time, it can be tricky to know where to start. Or how to overcome the fear of a …
When her son asked to quit basketball for more time to explore other interests, Christine Horstman was surprised to experience mixed feelings. There just wasn’t enough time for the demanding basketball schedule and the time and space he desired to nourish his creativity. The reasoning made perfect sense. But for Horstman, it meant no longer …
Kids are naturally curious. But various forces in the environment can dampen their curiosity over time. Can anything be done to keep kids’ curiosity alive? For answers to this question, The Conversation U.S. turned to Perry Zurn, a philosophy professor at American University and author of three books on curiosity, including “Curious Minds: The Power …
Somewhere between revolutions, equality movements, and trying to be more intentional with our buying choices because of “fast fashion,” “minimalism,” and “upcycling,” we lost an important thread. Pun intended. We’ve confused style with fashion and empowering self-expression with superficial vanity and consumerism. It can feel like tricky ground because we want to be more conscious, …
Most parents naturally want to raise resilient kids. After all, life is filled with pitfalls, setbacks, and disappointments. Uncertainty is our new normal. We are constantly bombarded by news of economic distress, mass shootings, and political upheaval, and all of this causes stress (and sometimes even grief) to build in our kids. As parents, we …
With digital technology and smartphones so ubiquitous, it is nearly impossible for parents to monitor and protect their children at every turn. That’s why caregivers must introduce concepts like digital safety, privacy, cyberbullying, phone etiquette, and more when giving kids their first phone. Luckily, in First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and …